More support announced for farming families affected by drought

"That's why I've stepped in to put more money onto their tables so those that are doing it really tough have more cash", he said.

When pop star Rihanna tweeted Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in February, asking them to help the Global Partnership for Education earlier this year, Bishop's department nearly immediately coughed up a $90 million pledge to support the education of foreign children.

In its latest round of drought support, the government is giving eligible farmers cash payments of up to $12,000 in two instalments.

Mr Turnbull said the new package was created to keep food on the farmer's tables not to supply feed for stock.

"We would also like farmers to be aware that the Rural Financial Councillors services come at no cost to them", Mr Jackson said.

"Everyone is saying it's too little, too late", she said.

Drought-awareness campaigner Edwina Robertson broke down when she met the Prime Minister in country NSW on Sunday after he announced $190 million of relief.

"It is created to keep body and soul together, not created to pay for fodder", the Prime Minister said.

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"The Farm Household Allowance has helped nearly 8000 of Australia's approximately 80,000 farmers over the past four years, as we've invested $230 million", Minister Littleproud said. "I find droughts a little bit like cancer - it sort of eats away at you, and it just gets drier and drier and more severe and more severe, and impacting on your life a lot worse".

Former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce yesterday weighed into the climate change debate and said dams were a better solution while claiming the government's action would do nothing to stop the drought.

Farmers have meanwhile expressed concerns the media is too heavily focused on drought "disaster" stories, fearing it could damage the reputation of Australia's livestock industry.

Mr Joyce, whose NSW electorate of New England has been badly affected by drought, believes reducing emissions in Australia won't change the climate.

"It will have no difference on the climate whatsoever", he told Sky News.

"It's vital that we help farmers and families that are dealing with the stress and pressures drought brings", president Fiona Simson said in a statement.

The National Farmers' Federation welcomed the news.

Their concerns have been echoed by NSW agriculture minister Niall Blair, who is anxious attention on farmers shooting animals or leaving them to starve will undermine Australia's standing as a meat-producing nation.